Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Dear Comic Art Fan,

Comic-Con is next week!! The biggest pop culture event in the world takes over San Diego!! CAF will be on the floor sharing booth space once again with art dealers Romitaman and Splash Page Art! Come find us at booth #4400!

Splash Page will host the following artists at our booth: Edgar Salazar, artist of Red Sonja, John Higgins, colorist of The Watchmen, and Brad Walker, artist of Guardians of the Galaxy and Heroes for Hire. Edgar Salazar and Brad Walker will also be taking on a limited number of convention commissions.

To celebrate 25 years of Watchmen – the only graphic novel included in Time Magazine’s “All-TIME 100 Greatest Novels” list – original Watchmen team member John Higgins has created a brand-new limited-edition Watchmen portfolio exclusively for San Diego Comic-Con 2011.

The new portfolio comes in two flavors, each containing a set of three individual prints of fan-favorite characters Sally Jupiter, Rorschach, and The Comedian, each richly-detailed image penciled, inked and colored by John Higgins.

Set A: Limited to 80 copies.The A3-sized prints (11.7″ x 16.5″) are colored in Turmoil Colour Studios’ modern color style and printed on Tintoretto Gesso 250gsm paper using the latest computer-controlled technology for a high-quality print run. All prints signed and numbered by John Higgins.

Available only at SDCC 2011 at the special price of $90 per set.

Set B: Limited to 20 copies.Containing three A3 (11.7″ x 16.5″)silk-screened prints on perfect Velin Arches Blanc 250gsm paper, with hand-separated color by John in the style of the classic Watchmen coloring. These hand-finished prints are all numbered, signed and embossed with the Turmoil Colour Studios symbol by John Higgins.

Available only at SDCC 2011 at the special price of $300 per set.

Both sets will be contained in a special sturdy Watchmen portfolio.

Portfolios will only be available at the Splash Page Art booth at SDCC 2011

Splash Page has a wide variety of art by represented artists such as Charlie Adlard Walking Dead art, Duncan Fegredo Hellboy art, and by other artists such as Jae Lee’s classic Namor, X-Men, and Dark Tower art.

I live in upstate New York with my two daughters, Liza and Charlotte. Besides original art I enjoy horse racing, golf, and traveling. I turned 40 this year and received my Black Belt in Tenkara Karate last summer. This fact I never fail to mention to my daughters' potential suitors nor that weapons training has begun. (Yes, that was an attempt at humor.) I plan on attending this year’s New York Comic Con and hope to see some of you there. Also if you are ever near Albany, NY feel free to look me up.

2. Which piece in your gallery is your favorite?

There are really two images that are my favorite for different reasons. The first is my Sam Kieth Marvel Comics Presents splash that represents my collecting original art during the early 90s. Wolverine has always been my favorite character and the detail on that piece is amazing. I think it is one of the best images created during Sam Kieth’s run on the title. It captures the essence of the Wolverine I always recall from my youth, his complexity, moodiness and fierceness. The second piece is my David Finch/Batt X-Force #27 cover. The connection I have with this is as emotional as it is about the detail of the artwork. David’s work got me back into collecting and this piece resonates with me because of my daughters. The detail is fantastic and connection that Cable and Hope have at this moment is frozen in my mind.

3. How long have you been collecting comic art and what prompted you to start?

I started collecting original art in 1992 and took a long hiatus when I got married in 1996. In 1992 I saw an advertisement for Bowe and Board and bought my first piece of art. The piece was a Wolverine panel page by Marc Silvestri. After that I was hooked and bought art from Scott Dunbier, Laurie Bradach, Albert Moy, Mike Allred, and Adam and Andy Kubert. In February, of this year, I Googled original comic art and found CAF. The people here and ideas behind the site are amazing!! I really appreciate what Bill Cox and the CAF community have done. So after a 15-year absence, the journey has started all over again.

4. How do you display/store your collection at home?

Now that I am back into it I am trying to make sure everything I have is framed. I try to only buy/trade for pieces that I will hang on my walls and enjoy, as prices today are vastly different then when I first started. I have a finished basement where I display the art on the walls done by theme or artist. They are framed with Archival Matting and UV Plexiglas. The pieces are always great conversation starters and it is always fun answering the question if I drew them. The only thing I can draw is stick figures and they are not even that good is my usual reply.